Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-6-1
pubmed:abstractText
Neural tube defects (NTD) arise in the first weeks of pregnancy due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. In mothers of children with NTD elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels and decreased plasma folate levels were observed, which suggests a defect in the folate-dependent Hcy metabolism. Therefore, mutations in genes coding for enzymes of this metabolism could be involved in NTD. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) catalyzes the reversible reaction of serine and tetrahydrofolate (THF) to glycine and 5,10-methylene THF. Two different isoforms of SHMT are known, one is present in the cytosol (cSHMT) and the other in the mitochondrion (mSHMT). Theoretically, mutated SHMT could lead to elevated Hcy levels and to an altered distribution of the different folate derivatives and might therefore become a risk factor for NTD. This study concerns the molecular genetic analysis of genes coding for both isoforms of the SHMT enzyme by single-stranded conformation polymorphism analysis. Several mutations as well as polymorphisms were found in both genes. The relevance of two variations, the 1420 C>T mutation of the cytosolic isoform and the 4-bp deletion of the mitochondrial isoform (delTCTT 1721-1724), to NTD risk was tested in a study group, which consisted of 109 NTD patients, 120 mothers of children with NTD, and 420 controls. Neither of the two polymorphisms led to an increased risk of NTD. In mothers with the 1420 CC genotype, significant increased Hcy levels are present. Also, significantly decreased red blood cell folate and plasma folate levels were present in individuals with the 1420 CC genotype. Probably, the 1420 C>T polymorphism causes a shift in distribution of the different folate derivatives. The 4-bp deletion of the mSHMT gene did not lead to altered Hcy or folate levels. So far, the results of this study provide no direct evidence for a role of defective SHMT functioning in NTD. Still, the influence of the 1420 C>T polymorphism of the cSHMT gene on the folate-related risk of NTD needs further investigation.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
1096-7192
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
73
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
164-72
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Adolescent, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Adult, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Alleles, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Base Sequence, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Child, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Cytosol, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-DNA, Complementary, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-DNA Mutational Analysis, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Female, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Folic Acid, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Genotype, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Glycine Hydroxymethyltransferase, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Mitochondria, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Mutation, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Neural Tube Defects, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Polymorphism, Genetic, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational, pubmed-meshheading:11386852-Sequence Deletion
pubmed:year
2001
pubmed:articleTitle
Is mutated serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) involved in the etiology of neural tube defects?
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Nijmegen, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't